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Turkish army chief wants Iraq op | Turkish army chief wants Iraq op |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The head of Turkey's powerful military has said Ankara should launch a military operation in northern Iraq to target Kurdish guerrillas based there. | The head of Turkey's powerful military has said Ankara should launch a military operation in northern Iraq to target Kurdish guerrillas based there. |
Gen Yasar Buyukanit, chief of Turkey's general staff, urged the government to approve a cross-border incursion. | Gen Yasar Buyukanit, chief of Turkey's general staff, urged the government to approve a cross-border incursion. |
Turkey accuses the outlawed Kurdish group PKK of using bases in northern Iraq to launch attacks on Turkey. | Turkey accuses the outlawed Kurdish group PKK of using bases in northern Iraq to launch attacks on Turkey. |
The PKK has been fighting since 1984 to achieve autonomy for Turkey's Kurds. | The PKK has been fighting since 1984 to achieve autonomy for Turkey's Kurds. |
Gen Buyukanit said 10 Turkish soldiers and 29 PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) rebels had died in clashes in recent days. | Gen Buyukanit said 10 Turkish soldiers and 29 PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) rebels had died in clashes in recent days. |
"An operation into Iraq is necessary," he told a news conference in Ankara on Thursday. | "An operation into Iraq is necessary," he told a news conference in Ankara on Thursday. |
He acknowledged that a political decision would be required to authorise such an operation. | He acknowledged that a political decision would be required to authorise such an operation. |
US caution | |
Turkey has previously launched raids on PKK strongholds in northern Iraq. | Turkey has previously launched raids on PKK strongholds in northern Iraq. |
Gen Buyukanit accused the Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq of allowing the PKK huge freedom of movement there. | |
The United States has repeatedly warned against any such move against the PKK, arguing it would destabilise the only relatively calm region in Iraq. | |
Gen Buyukanit said he had intelligence the PKK was planning to step up its attacks in Turkey, starting in May. The military has already launched large-scale operations in the mainly Kurdish southeast to prevent that. | |
Turkey's politicians have to authorise any military action overseas. Gen Buyukanit said he had not yet asked parliament for permission. |
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